EU lifts sanctions against Libyan Airlines

European sanctions against Libyan Airlines have been lifted following the political developments in the North African state.

The European Union placed sanctions on Libya in a regulation dated 2 March, gradually extending the restrictions to various entities.

It included Libyan Airlines in the list on 12 April, citing the fact that it was wholly-owned by the Libyan government.

Afriqiyah Airways, the Libyan state's other main airline, was separately listed on 23 May. The sanction document stated that it was owned by the Libyan African Investment Portfolio, an entity "owned and controlled by the regime".

But in the wake of the ousting of Muammar Gaddafi from his seat of power in Tripoli, and the efforts to change the government in Libya, the EU has eased some of its prohibitions, lifting restrictions on 28 organisations including various oil companies, port authorities and banks.

Libyan Airlines is also included on the list, which featured in an implementing regulation in the EU's Official Journal on 1 September.

Afriqiyah Airways, which operated official flights for Gaddafi, is not specifically listed as having had restrictions lifted, although the reason is unclear. The two carriers had been in the process of merging before the unrest broke out in Libya earlier this year.